“Oof.” Teagan giggled as we got Jamie’s stranglehold hugs.
“I’m so freaking excited.” She ran to the back of the bus and came back with an iPad. “This is Boots.” She handed the device to Oz. “It’s the alpaca mascot for his mom’s place.”
Oz tipped his head and stared at Jamie. “And you know this, why?”
“I sleep for shit. She has these webcams on all the time. You know like that crazy giraffe baby from a few years ago?”
“Oh, right.” Daisy took the iPad. “It’s so cute.” She enlarged the video. “There are so many of them.”
“So, we’re headed to alpaca shit country? Exciting.” Oz kicked his feet out under the table. “However, your mom is fairly hot and can cook.”
Daisy elbowed him in the gut. “Excuse you?”
“Not as hot as you, sprite, just you know—”
“Stop while you’re ahead, dude.” Teagan sat on my lap. “We’re going to see your mom?”
“If you’re cool with that. I’ve hung out with your folks a few times, figured it was time for you to meet mine.”
She played with the strap on my apron. “Yeah. You talk about her a lot, so I feel like I know her.” She lifted her gaze. “Things are a bit different now though.”
“Exactly why I want you meet her.”
“Oh.” She leaned in and whispered in my ear. “Will she like me?”
“She’s gonna love you.”
“Okay, I’ve had enough of the hearts. I’m off to enjoy my food coma.” Jamie took her iPad and went upstairs.
We all had the same idea. Now that the plans were in place, I texted my mom that everything was a go and dragged Teagan back upstairs to have a nap.
Naked.
Twenty-Four
I tried to imagine what my mom was going to think when a big rig made its way up her winding driveway. I’d texted her with a heads up when we were ten minutes out. It ended up being more like twenty since the mountain roads were a little windy for this massive truck.
When we parked and the magic door opened, I found my sister waiting for me.
“Drooper!”
“Drooper?” Jamie’s laughter pealed behind me. “I’m stealing that forever.”
“I hate you.” I came down the stairs and hauled her in for a hug before swinging her around. “Had to drop the nickname right off the bat, huh?”
“Of course.” She dropped to the gravel drive. “Hey guys, it’s been ages.”
“Drooper,” Jamie cackled and hopped down. “Love it. How’s it hanging, Jen?” She gave her a one-armed hug and slapped her ass. “Looking fine, as always.”
“Uh, thanks…” Jenny gave me a helpless look.
“Don’t worry, I haven’t switched teams. Just sick of looking at the same faces is all.” She leaned down to Jenny’s height. “Can I see Boots?”
Jenny grinned. “Absolutely.” She pointed to the barn. “You’re in luck. She’s having herself a cool-down. She’d love the company.”
“Yes!” Jamie’s long gate covered the ground fast.
She was halfway to the barn before I blinked. “She’s not going to be alone down there, is she?”
“Uh, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Teagan said and clutched my hand.
“Don’t worry, Aggie is in there. She’ll rein her in.”
“You sure?” Teagan glanced up at me. “Does she know how much trouble Jamie can get into?”
“Aggie helped raise us, and Drooper gave her plenty of reasons to be a hard taskmaster.” She dragged Teagan away from me and enveloped her in a hug. “Finally, we get to meet you. We’ve been begging him to bring you to visit.”
“You have?” Teagan patted her shoulder, but when Jenny didn’t let go, she finally hugged her back in full Teagan mode. “You need to tell me about Drooper.”
“No, she does not.” I tugged Teagan back to stand beside me. “Where’s Mom?”
“Primping. Lord knows why. Though she does have a little bit of a crush on your bassist manslice.”
Oz’s heavy booted foot jangled as he hopped off the bus. “Manslice? Me?” He nodded. “‘Sup, Jenny.”
“Hey, Tree.”
Daisy tucked herself under Oz’s arm. “My manslice, thanks.”
“Aww.” Jenny’s face softened. “Oz, you actually have a nice girl? What happened?”
Oz gave Daisy an absent kiss on the temple. “Crazy, right? Daisy, meet Jenny Dallas. Cooper’s not-so-little sister.”
Daisy held out her hand. “Thanks for having us. We are very excited about the alpacas.”
“And steak,” Oz added.
“Rude.” Daisy rolled her eyes. “Excuse my manslice.”
“That’s not going away anytime soon, is it?” Oz muttered.
Daisy’s quick and easy smile widened. “Nope.”
Jenny laughed. “I missed you crazies. Head over to the house. We’ve got quite the spread of food set-up in the back to hold you over until dinner.”
“Yes!”
Zane and Lindsey followed as everyone got caught up. The small talk and laughter were welcome as a few of the security guys came out to make sure all was well and ended up staying for the ridiculous layout of food my mom put together.
I took Teagan’s hand and headed for the main house.
“Are you sure she’s going to like me?”
“Teag, of course she is.”
She pressed her lips together. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous. We’ve talked on the phone a few times.” She clutched my hand with both of hers. “It’s just…”
“Different?”
“Yeah.”
I opened the sliding door leading to the back of the huge one-level house. My mom’s Australian Shepard came racing to the door. I immediately dropped to my knee and took all the love.
“Okay, okay, Sadie.” I pushed her off before I got a tongue down my throat. That was reserved for Teagan.
And because Sadie was shameless, she loved all over Teagan, who was more than happy to fawn all over her.
I stood up as my mom stopped on the threshold to her kitchen.
“Ma.”
“Oh, Cooper. I was trying to get cleaned up before I saw you.” She wiped her hands on the ever-present flour sack towel she tucked in her front pocket.
There were a few more lines around her eyes from her endless hours in the sun, but my mother was still ridiculously stunning. Her dark hair was cut to her shoulders, and
